Manually operated unlatching anchor

ABSTRACT

A boat anchor having a shank with movable or rotatably mounted flukes and fine adjacent one end which have a normal locked or latched position for digging into the sea bottom or the bottom of any other body of water thus functioning as any conventional anchor. There is a latching mechanism for manually unlatching the flukes and fins to permit them to freely turn or rotate and free the anchor should it be lodged or caught under rocks, hard corral, sunken debris, cables etc.

United States Patent 1m Ehrhardt 1 51 Oct. 2, 1973 MANUALLY OPERATED UNLATCHING ANCHOR [76] lnventor: Henry B. Ehrhardt, Key West, Fla.

[22] Filed: Mar. 2, 1973 211 Appl. No.: 337,561

[52] US. Cl 114/208 A [51] Int. Cl 1363b 21/44 [58] Field of Search 114/208 R, 208 A, 1 14/206 [561 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,870,731 1/1959 Marshburn et a1 114/208 R 2,643,629 6/1953 Huck 1 114/206 R 2,563,380 8/1951 Staempfli 114/208 R 97,342 ll/l869 Barlow 114/208 R Primary Examiner-Duane A. Reger Assistant ExaminerGalen L. Barefoot Attorney-J. C. Baisch 57 ABSTRACT A boat anchor having a shank with movable or rotatably mounted flukes and fine adjacent one end which have a normal locked or latched position for digging into the sea bottom or the bottom of any other body of water thus functioning as any conventional anchor. There is a latching mechanism for manually unlatching the flukes and fins to permit them to freely turn or rotate and free the anchor should it be lodged or caught under rocks, hard corral, sunken debris, cables etc.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1 MANUALLY OPERATED UNLATCI-IING ANCHOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to anchors and relates more particularly to boat anchors with releasable flukes and/or fins.

2. Description of the Prior Art There are various types of boat anchors having re- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises an anchor having a shank at one end of which there are rotatable flukes and fins. A latch arrangement locks the flukes and fins in operative position so thatthe anchor will function to hold a boat in the usual conventional manner. There is a latch release mechanism positioned at the opposite end of the shank and adapted to have the anchor line or rope-attached thereto. The latch release mechanism can only be operated when the boat is substantially aligned over the anchor. When the boat is in this position, an upward pull on the rope will actuate the release mechanism. so that the flukes and fins may rotate and thereby become disengaged from objects to which the anchor has become lodged so that it cannot be normally dislodged.

OBJECTS AND-ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an anchor having releasable flukes and/or fins, should the anchor become lodged under or around underwater objects.

It is another object of the invention to provide an anchor of this character having latching means for latching the flukes in operative position and which will not release the flukes and/or fins by an ordinary straight pull on the shank. I

It is still another object of the invention to provide an anchorof this character having means for unlatching the flukes and/or fins only by an upward pull substantially normal to the shank.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an anchor of this character that is relatively simple, efiective and reliable in construction and effective and reliable in operation. 7

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an anchor of this character that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufficiently referred to in connection with the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, which represent o'neembodiment. Afterconsidering this example, skilled persons will understand that many variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed and I contemplate the employment of any structures, arrangements or modes of operation that are properly within ths scope of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes:

FIG. 1 is a top plane view of an anchor embodying the present invention and showing the flukes in their normal operative position and the latch release mechanism','in the latched position;

FIG. 2 is a view taken at right angles to the view 0 shown in-FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to the view in FIG. 2 showing the latch release mechanism and the latch in the released position; V

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and I FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown an anchor embodying the present invention. The anchor comprises a shank indicated generally at 10. At one end, the shank has an enlarged part 12 having a transverse bore therethrough, the enlarged part 12 comprising a bearing for a shaft 14 which is rotatable in said bearing. At each side of the bearing 12, is a segment lock, indicated generally at 16 and secured to the shaft 14 by any suitable means such as, for example, welding as at 18.

The portions of the shaft l4fextending both the respective segment locks, are provided with flukes 20'and a plurality of fins 22, 24 and 26.The fins 24 arein alignment with the flukes 20, the fins 22 and 26' being at opposite sides of the fins 24 and spaced angularly therefrom, the flukes and fins being radially arranged on the shaft 14.

The bearing 12 includes arcuate parts 12a integral with the shank and defining half of the bearing. At the free ends of the arcuate parts 12a, are radially extending flanges 12b with openings therein. The rest of the bearing is defined by a strap 13 having flanges 13a at the free ends thereof with openings therein. The openings in the flanges 12b and 13a are for reception of bolts 15 having nuts 15a thereon for securing the strap to the parts 12a. Thus, the shaft is rotatably secured to the bearing end of the shank.

The shank 10 is rectangular-in cross section and there is a latch indicated generally at 28, adjacent the bearing 12, said latch comprising asleeve 30 slidable on the shank and having forwardly extending arms 32 at opposite sides. The arms 32 are adapted to move forwardly into engagement with the shank side of thebearing 12 and between radial edges 34 and 36 of the respective ited rotation of said shaft as will be described more fully hereandafter.

' 'Sleeve30 is urged forwardly into engagement with thebearing 12 by a spring 40 which ;reacts:against.the opposite end of thesleeve '30.and'a washer 42 'on the shank 10, said washer being held against longitudinal movement on shank by a pin 44 provided in a cross bore not shown in the shank. Spring 40 thus urges the sleeve 30 against the bearing 12 at which position the latch mechanism 28 is in the latching position.

At the rear end of the shank are a pair of plates 48 pivoted intermediate their ends on a pin 50 secured in a cross bore provided therefore in the shank 10 adjacent its free or rear end. Plates 48 are disposed at opposite sides of the shank and the pin 50 is provided with annular grooves adjacent its free ends for reception of spring clips 52 which retain the plates 48 on said pin 50.

Adjacent the outer ends of the plates 48 is a pin 54 disposed in aligned bores provided therefore in the outer end portions of the plates 48. This pin 54 also has annular grooves adjacent the free end thereof for reception of spring clips 56 for preventing the plates from separating from the pin 54.

Plates 48 have their opposite ends connected with the sleeve 30 by means of links 58, there being a link 58 at each side of the shank. Each link 58 has an inturned end portion 60 bent at right angles to the link and terminating in an enlarged head 62 slidable in a recess 64 in the side walls of the sleeve 30, the inturned end portions 60 being slidably recessed in slots 66 extending longitudinally in the side walls of the sleeve 30, said slots communicating with the recesses 64.

The opposite ends of said links are also provided with inturned end portions, indicated at 68 received in bores provided therefor adjacent the inner ends of the plates 48 and adjacent thefree ends of the inturned portions 68 or annular grooves in which are spring clips 70.

When the plates 48 are in alignment with the shank of the anchor, the spring 40 urges the sleeve 30 to the locking position. To unlock the mechanism, the plates are moved to a position extending transversely of the shank, as shown in FIG. 3, thereby causing the links to be pulled rearwardly and pull the sleeve 30 to the unlocked or unlatched position as shown in FIG. 3.

In normal use, the anchor will be in the locked or latching position and when lowered to the bottom, the fins will dig into the bottom and move the flukes to the anchoring position. Since there is a certain amount of rotational movement permitted by the spacing of the edges 34 and 36, the flukes will be moved to the anchoring position regardless of the side of the anchor resting on the bottom. Engagement of either the edges 34 or the edges 36 with the arms 32 prevent rotation of the shaft 14 beyond the position whereat the flukes are in the anchoring position.

It is to be understood that even though the anchor may be lowered with the latching mechanism in the unlatched position, the spring will move the sleeve to the latching position and the anchor will function as above described.

The amount of rotation of the shaft 14 permitted by the segment lock 16, is such that the flukes may turn from about 25 to 45 at either side of the shank and by gravity, the flukes will always drop into an anchoring position.

Should the anchor become lodged under rocks or other objects so that a straight pull on the anchor will not dislodge it, the boat is moved to a position over the anchor and an upward pull on the anchor cable will cause the plates 48 to move to their transverse position whereat the latching mechanism is moved to the unlatched position. This will permit the flukes to turn freely so that they can be exactly backed out of their caught position after which the anchor is hauled aboard the boat. Thus, there is no loss of anchor or line. The latching mechanism may be arranged for any suitable amount of releasing pull but about a 25-lb. pull on the line is very satisfactory to effect the unlatching of the anchor.

I claim:

1. An anchor, comprising:

an elongated shank;

a bearing at one end of said shank;

a shaft rotatably disposed in said bearing said bearing being at substantially the longitudinal center of the shaft;

segment locks secured on the shaft at the respective sides of the bearing, said segment locks being arcuate in shape and having radial edges spaced angularly apart;

a radially extending fluke on the shaft adjacent each free end of said shaft, said flukes being in substantially the same plane;

a plurality of radially extending angularly spaced fins on said shaft, the fins adjacent the flukes being spaced angularly therefrom, said flukes and fins being spaced outwardly along said shaft from the respective segment locks;

latch means for releaseably latching the shaft with the flukes in operative anchoring position,

said latch including a sleeve slidably mounted on the shank adjacent the bearing, said sleeve having arms projecting toward the shaft, the arms being of less width than the spacing between the radial edges of the segment locks and adapted to be disposed in said spaces when the sleeve is in the latching position;

yielding means urging the sleeve to the latching position;

plates disposed at opposite sides of the shank adjacent the end opposite the bearing; means pivotly securing the plates to said end of the shank;

a link operably connecting the respective plates with opposite sides of the sleeve, the sleeve being in the latching position when the plates are in longitudinal parallel alignment with the shank;

and means adjacent the outer free ends of the plates for connection with an anchor cable.

2. The invention defined by claim 1, wherein the flukes are at an acute angle relative to the shank when said flukes are in operative anchoring position.

3. The invention defined by claim 2, wherein the flukes are in operative anchoring position when the arms of the sleeve are disposed in the respective spaces between the radial edges of the segment locks.

4. The invention defined by claim 3, wherein there is means for holding the sleeve against rotation on the.

shank.

5. The invention defined by claim 1, wherein the sleeve has longitudinally extending slots at opposite sides thereof, and the links having inturned ends slidably disposed in respective slots, and means for retaining said ends in said slots.

I I! k k v 

1. An anchor, comprising: an elongated shank; a bearing at one end of said shank; a shaft rotatably disposed in said bearing said bearing being at substantially the longitudinal center of the shaft; segment locks secured on the shaft at the respective sides of the bearing, said segment locks being arcuate in shape and having radial edges spaced angularly apart; a radially extending fluke on the shaft adjacent each free end of said shaft, said flukes being in substantially the same plane; a plurality of radially extending angularly spaced fins on said shaft, the fins adjacent the flukes being spaced angularly therefrom, said flukes and fins being spaced outwardly along said shaft from the respective segment locks; latch means for releaseably latching the shaft with the flukes in operative anchoring position, said latch including a sleeve slidably mounted on the shank adjacent the bearing, said sleeve having arms projecting toward the shaft, the arms being of less width than the spacing between the radial edges of the segment locks and adapted to be disposed in said spaces when the sleeve is in the latching position; yieldinG means urging the sleeve to the latching position; plates disposed at opposite sides of the shank adjacent the end opposite the bearing; means pivotly securing the plates to said end of the shank; a link operably connecting the respective plates with opposite sides of the sleeve, the sleeve being in the latching position when the plates are in longitudinal parallel alignment with the shank; and means adjacent the outer free ends of the plates for connection with an anchor cable.
 2. The invention defined by claim 1, wherein the flukes are at an acute angle relative to the shank when said flukes are in operative anchoring position.
 3. The invention defined by claim 2, wherein the flukes are in operative anchoring position when the arms of the sleeve are disposed in the respective spaces between the radial edges of the segment locks.
 4. The invention defined by claim 3, wherein there is means for holding the sleeve against rotation on the shank.
 5. The invention defined by claim 1, wherein the sleeve has longitudinally extending slots at opposite sides thereof, and the links having inturned ends slidably disposed in respective slots, and means for retaining said ends in said slots. 